Someone you know could be experiencing a mental illness or crisis. You can help them. You are more likely to encounter someone — friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, or member of the community — in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack. Mental Health First Aid teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to people with the signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in a crisis, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self-help care. Anyone can take the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid course — first responders, students, teachers, leaders of faith communities, human resources professionals, and caring citizens.

Empty Bowls is a grassroots effort led by Options that includes artists and restaurants in our community. This event raises funds to feed the hungry and people experiencing food insecurity in our community. The basic premise of Empty Bowls (an international event) is simple: Potters and other craftspeople, educators and community members work with the community to create handcrafted bowls. Attendees have the pleasure of selecting a bowl from hundreds of one-of-a-kind hand-crafted bowls donated by Grants Pass area artists and Options' clients. Guests are invited to a meal of soup and bread. In exchange for a $30 donation, guests are invited to keep a bowl of their choosing as a reminder of all the empty bowls in our community.

The 12th Annual Empty Bowls will be held on October 8th, 2018 at Parkway Christian Center, 229 NE Beacon Drive in Grants Pass, Oregon. Doors will open at 5:45 PM with service starting at 6:00 PM.

The multicultural fair is an annual project of Friends of the Multicultural Fair, a group of the city of Medford's Multicultural Commission. Through the help of many generous sponsors and trusted volunteers, it brings a free, one-day celebration of culture to Medford's Alba Park. Entertainment, games and food highlight the event.

Children in need of assistance will be able to receive a free back-pack loaded with school supplies (while supplies last). They can also receive free hearing, vision, and dental screenings. Other services include emergency child identification fingerprinting, safety awareness, fire safety demonstrations, ice cream, bounce house, and much more.

This program is only open to residents of Josephine County. Parent or guardian must present a valid government issued photo ID and provide a current utility bill matching the address on the photo ID to be eligible for school supplies. Every child needing to receive a backpack and school supplies must be present with their parent/guardian on the day of the event.For additional information please visit www.parkwaycc.com or call 541-479-2639

Join Options for Southern Oregon and Access for our first ever Bowls of Hope!

This new event will feature hand-painted ceramic bowls donated by local students and artists. Guests will enjoy an array of specialty soups and breads donated by local area restaurants. As guests arrive they select their bowl which will be put into a gift bag to take home. The bowl is theirs to keep as a memento and is a reminder that thousands of bowls in our community go empty every year. These Bowls of Hope will help those facing hunger, special challenges or disabilities. Attendees visit the food vendors to taste their signature soups. Guests will vote on their favorite soup for the “People’s Choice-Soup of the Year” Award. Cost is $25 per person before event or $30 at the door.

For more information or tickets call Pam Slater/ACCESS at 541-690-3974; orSarah Small/Options at 541-244-4138

Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk: Core Competencies for Mental Health Professionals (AMSR) is a one-day workshop for mental health professionals that will help them better assess suicide risk, plan treatment, and manage the ongoing care of clients at-risk for suicide.

Outpatient behavioral health providers play a crucial role in preventing suicides. Studies have shown that a substantial proportion of people who died by suicide had either been in treatment or had some recent contact with a mental health professional. Yet many providers report that they feel inadequately trained to assess, treat, and manage suicidal patients or clients. AMSR meets providers’ need for research-informed, skills-based training.

Count Her In: Empowering Local Women & Girls

A Community Event Presented by Coalition for Kids

The "Count Her In" event will be held on Sunday, February 11th from 2:00-5:00 pm on the Grants Pass High School grounds. Attendees will first gather in the Performing Arts Center to hear from the Women's Foundation of Oregon about their groundbreaking report on the "8 That Can't Wait" and the "8 to Celebrate" for Women and Girls across our state.

Someone you know could be experiencing a mental illness or crisis. You can help them. You are more likely to encounter someone — friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, or member of the community — in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack.

Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training certification course that teaches participants a five-step action plan to assess a situation, select and implement interventions, and help direct an individual to appropriate care. This certification program introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and provides an overview of common treatments. Evaluations in randomized controlled trials and a quantitative study have found this CPR-like program is effective in improving trainees’ knowledge of mental disorders, reducing stigma, and increasing the amount of help provided to others.

REGISTRATION – Registration needs to occur in order to secure a place in the class.For more information or to participate in a Mental Health First Aid training in Josephine County call Options for Southern Oregon: 541 476-2373 and ask for Amara Thelen or Monica Wickham.Cost is $25.00 (cash or check only)– Lunch Included. Scholarships available upon inquiry.

Options for Southern Oregon is happy to announce that the 11th Empty Bowls event in Grants Pass, Oregon. It will again be held at Parkway Christian Center on Monday, October 9th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Guests choose a handcrafted bowl and are then served a bowl of soup and bread. The handmade bowl is theirs to take home as a reminder of hunger in our community.

Someone you know could be experiencing a mental illness or crisis. You can help them. You are more likely to encounter someone — friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, or member of the community — in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack. Mental Health First Aid teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to people with the signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in a crisis, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self-help care. Anyone can take the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid course — first responders, students, teachers, leaders of faith communities, human resources professionals, and caring citizens.

Someone you know could be experiencing a mental illness or crisis. You can help them. You are more likely to encounter someone — friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, or member of the community — in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack. Mental Health First Aid teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to people with the signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in a crisis, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self help care. Anyone can take the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid course — first responders, students, teachers, leaders of faith communities, human resources professionals, and caring citizens.

Rogue Community College’s Ceramic Department will be hosting a Throw-a-Thon to benefit the annual Empty Bowls Project. The event will take place at the Firehouse Gallery during April’s First Friday Live on April 7th from 3-7 PM.